Halloween, Lack of Discretion and Facebook is a Scary Combination

There is a minor controversy in Dallas because one of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders dressed up as Li’l Wayne for Halloween complete with make-up to make the white woman look like the black male rapper.  Someone took pictures at the Halloween party (shocking) and some of the pictures ended up on Facebook (shocking) which was then picked up on sports gossip site Deadspin.  You can read about the story here from the Dallas Morning News. 

Rather than commenting on whether we should be offended by this “celebrity” dressing in what some people have inaccurately described as blackface or whether we should be offended that people are offended by this, I am offended at the lack of common sense.  I was interviewed by KRLD’s Scott Braddock on this story yesterday afternoon.  You can listen to the interview here.

Alas, her lack of foresight into the public image of her Halloween costume pales in comparison to that of Joshua Lipton.  He was driving drunk when he was in a car accident that seriously injured another driver.  Did he ask himself:  I’m going to be tried for drunk driving where the jury is likely going to be against me given I hurt someone, should I dress up in a orange jumpsuit for a Halloween party where there will be plenty of pictures of me drinking and partying?  The judge said no, calling him “depraved” when the pictures were shown at the trial.  He was given a 2-year sentence.  More here.

I could go on and on, but really shouldn’t someone have asked these similar real life questions?  

If I filed a personal injury claim, should I post Facebook pictures of myself waterskiing?

If I am the head of spying agency, should my wife post unrestricted messages and pictures showing where we are and who we are hanging out with?  

If there is a question about the paternity of my child, should I list myself as divorced on Facebook when I want to argue to the court my husband and I have a stable relationship to prove he is the father?  

If I go on vacation and eat an endangered animal should I put ALL of my vacation photos on Facebook?

If you answered “yes” to any of these, best of luck to you and we’ll see you on Facebook and the blogosphere.